Yesterday morning at 11 am around 40 students from across Scotland went into occupation of the collins building at Strathclyde University in protest of the recently announced £27,000 fees for RUK (Rest of UK, apart from Scotland) students.
Students have come from Universities all over Scotland, including Glasgow, Strathclyde, Caledonian, Edinburgh and St Andrews. The occupation follows a similar occupation last week at the Royal Conservatiore of Scotland (formerly the RSMAD) after they announced their intention to introduce £36,000 fees for RUK students, and a 36 hour occupation at Edinburgh University on the 16th of September in protest of Edinburgh University’s decision to set RUK fees at £36,000.
Strathclyde university announced at the end of last term to run down departments of community education, Geography, Sociology and close down the music department. This year Strathclyde has seen less than 170 humanities and social science students with many staff and students blaming cutbacks in these departments for the decline in student numbers. Students say they are standing in solidarity with the UCU in resisting job, pay and pension cuts. The Herald also reported that Strathclyde is considering 3 year degrees. Students say this is another attack on the quality of their education.
Students from across Scotland have said that they will continue to cause distribution over university plans to introduce RUK fees. Strathclyde University student Ben says:
‘The introduction of fees and continuing cuts are an attack on the values of free education that Scotland has always prided itself on, we will continue to fight cuts in education and fight wider government austerity plans. Disruption will continue and escalate as long as universities continue to pass on government cuts. The student movement did not end with the introduction of fees for English students, we will continue to fight and we will win.’
Students from the occupation have said that they are using the occupation to build for the STUC October 1st People First demo this Saturday in Glasgow, meeting 12 noon at Glasgow Green. A student from Glasgow university, Kate said:
‘As we approach the STUC People First demo on Saturday, we are sending a clear message that for the first time in years, there is a strong, united student movement which will continue to play a role within the struggle against austerity. RUK fees are another clear example of universities using a climate of austerity to attack jobs, cut courses and turn universities into money making enterprises. This occupation, along with others, intends to demonstrate how strongly the students oppose the commodification of education.’
Demands:
- No fees for rest of UK students
- Halt all course closures and cutbacks to lecturers and staff
- No cuts to any other departments or staff
- No introduction of 3 year degree programmes. Full degrees, fully funded for students
- Freedom of access in and out of the occupation
- No reprisals for students and staff participating in the occupation.
- Living wage for all staff at Strathclyde University
